TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOME NEWS AUGUST 16, 1918 P. 3
Newport News, Va.,
August 6, 1918.
Mr. Joe Chappell,
Dear Brother:--
Will drop you a few lines and tell you all about my trip from Camp Beauregard La., to Camp Hill, Va.
We left Camp Beauregard on Wednesday, July 31. We went via New Orleans, crossed the river on a ferry boat and while crossing the river I had gone to sleep and had gone I don’t know how far before I awoke. We came down by a beautiful lake where the tide was beginning to rise and the people were fishing. Some were wading, some were on stumps and others were in small boats which were being tossed to and fro over the lake. They looked as though they would dip when the big waves would strike them but the fishermen would continue fishing as if they feared no danger.
We passed on through Louisiana and came to Meridian, Mississippi, where we stopped for a hike, stayed there about two hours. While there we marched to town and stopped on Main Street, got all of our singers together and had some large crowd gathered around us. After we had finished singing they brought us plenty of good ice water, we then returned to our train, all loaded on and started on our journey once more. By this time night had overtaken us, so I could see no more of Mississippi.
When morning dawned we had reached Alabama, through which we passed like a dream and on down nto Georga where we had a pretty good time. The Red Cross girls met the trains at every large town with candies, cigaretts and flowers.
When we got to Atlanta it was time for another hike, we got on the train but did not stay long for it was raining that morning.
But to cap it all one man in our car had the measles so we were put under quarantine from then on. However, we were allowed to leave the train when the rest did but we had to go in a different direction.
We passed through South Carolina and believe me, that is some tough looking country. There was none of it that looked good to me but North Carolina is some fine place. We stopped at Raleigh and oh, boy they sure did treat us nice.
They had a big long table just loaded with watermelons and we ate just as long as we wanted to and as for me you know that was a long time. It was the first chance we have had at good melons and these sure were good, right off the ice, you know they were some fine.
Well we left Raleigh at 5 o’clock p.m. Saturday and landed in Newport News, Va. at 7 a.m. Sunday.
But the worse thing of all they came through at 4 a.m. and woke us up and made us get ready to get off, said we were just about there so we lost 3 hours sleep. That is some of the boys did, I didn’t for I was on guard, but guard on the train is a snap, you can do just about as you please, that is the corporal can, the poor private has to stand at the door all the time.
When we landed here they put those of us who had been exposed to the measles in barracks to ourselves at Camp Stuart where we were kept one day and night, we were then moved over to Camp Hill.
I sat in my barracks yesterday watching the other boys prepare for another journey. I tell you it sure did hurt me to see the other fellows getting ready to leave and I had to be separated from the boys from home, the ones I have been travelling with for 12 months and the ones I wanted to cross the pond with.
I feel sure those boys will give good account of themselves when they get over there and just one case of measles caused it all. Guess it is all for the best or it would not be as it is. I guess it will all come out in the wash. The washing I am looking forward to is when I get out of quarantine. Then there is just 63 of us left and you know what a whole that makes in a company.
Well, I shouldn’t kick, I get something to eat three times a day, a good place to sleep within a very short distance of Chespeake Bay.
We can see something new every day. Well I’ll stop for this time, when I get across I will write you another letter. That is, if I can find time, I want to get a Hun on my bayonet some time and when I do I’ll tell you how I did it.
I close with best wishes to you and all the folks at home.
Your brother,
JAS. M. CHAPPELL
NOTES: Chappell was born on January 21, 1889 and died on April 24, 1954. He is buried in the Woodman’s Cemetery in McCrory, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a corporal in 44 Co., 162 Depot Brigade.
TRANSCRIBED BY HANNAH MERRICK
Newport News, Va.,
August 6, 1918.
Mr. Joe Chappell,
Dear Brother:--
Will drop you a few lines and tell you all about my trip from Camp Beauregard La., to Camp Hill, Va.
We left Camp Beauregard on Wednesday, July 31. We went via New Orleans, crossed the river on a ferry boat and while crossing the river I had gone to sleep and had gone I don’t know how far before I awoke. We came down by a beautiful lake where the tide was beginning to rise and the people were fishing. Some were wading, some were on stumps and others were in small boats which were being tossed to and fro over the lake. They looked as though they would dip when the big waves would strike them but the fishermen would continue fishing as if they feared no danger.
We passed on through Louisiana and came to Meridian, Mississippi, where we stopped for a hike, stayed there about two hours. While there we marched to town and stopped on Main Street, got all of our singers together and had some large crowd gathered around us. After we had finished singing they brought us plenty of good ice water, we then returned to our train, all loaded on and started on our journey once more. By this time night had overtaken us, so I could see no more of Mississippi.
When morning dawned we had reached Alabama, through which we passed like a dream and on down nto Georga where we had a pretty good time. The Red Cross girls met the trains at every large town with candies, cigaretts and flowers.
When we got to Atlanta it was time for another hike, we got on the train but did not stay long for it was raining that morning.
But to cap it all one man in our car had the measles so we were put under quarantine from then on. However, we were allowed to leave the train when the rest did but we had to go in a different direction.
We passed through South Carolina and believe me, that is some tough looking country. There was none of it that looked good to me but North Carolina is some fine place. We stopped at Raleigh and oh, boy they sure did treat us nice.
They had a big long table just loaded with watermelons and we ate just as long as we wanted to and as for me you know that was a long time. It was the first chance we have had at good melons and these sure were good, right off the ice, you know they were some fine.
Well we left Raleigh at 5 o’clock p.m. Saturday and landed in Newport News, Va. at 7 a.m. Sunday.
But the worse thing of all they came through at 4 a.m. and woke us up and made us get ready to get off, said we were just about there so we lost 3 hours sleep. That is some of the boys did, I didn’t for I was on guard, but guard on the train is a snap, you can do just about as you please, that is the corporal can, the poor private has to stand at the door all the time.
When we landed here they put those of us who had been exposed to the measles in barracks to ourselves at Camp Stuart where we were kept one day and night, we were then moved over to Camp Hill.
I sat in my barracks yesterday watching the other boys prepare for another journey. I tell you it sure did hurt me to see the other fellows getting ready to leave and I had to be separated from the boys from home, the ones I have been travelling with for 12 months and the ones I wanted to cross the pond with.
I feel sure those boys will give good account of themselves when they get over there and just one case of measles caused it all. Guess it is all for the best or it would not be as it is. I guess it will all come out in the wash. The washing I am looking forward to is when I get out of quarantine. Then there is just 63 of us left and you know what a whole that makes in a company.
Well, I shouldn’t kick, I get something to eat three times a day, a good place to sleep within a very short distance of Chespeake Bay.
We can see something new every day. Well I’ll stop for this time, when I get across I will write you another letter. That is, if I can find time, I want to get a Hun on my bayonet some time and when I do I’ll tell you how I did it.
I close with best wishes to you and all the folks at home.
Your brother,
JAS. M. CHAPPELL
NOTES: Chappell was born on January 21, 1889 and died on April 24, 1954. He is buried in the Woodman’s Cemetery in McCrory, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a corporal in 44 Co., 162 Depot Brigade.
TRANSCRIBED BY HANNAH MERRICK